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1. Eat what looks good - try it all but more importantly stay hydrated.
2. Hiking Shoes not boots. Salomon are good.
3. Don’t miss the camaraderie and the solitude. Don’t miss that both are important. And don’t miss that the true blessing is the journey and not the destination.
Walk with God...
I brought a lightweight Marmot rain jacket that worked for wind cold rain. It was so thin and so warm because of the material that it had zippers under the arms in case you got too hot. It also had a hood which kept out all the rain. It was perfect. I would definitely bring gloves and keep track...
Here’s my low-cost Camino flying trick from US. Fly from your US city to Dublin. (These flights are inexpensive - $600.) You can stay in Dublin for a day (or 2 just for fun) and then use Ryanair and fly over to Biarritz France (the flight cost me $75). Then use Express Bourricot taxi share...
I also stayed at HOSTEL RIO ARGA IBAIA - 2X - it had a large kitchen, lots of utensils to make your own meal, private rooms, and dorms with two or three bunkbeds in each room. It was clean and had a nice bath and a fair price. And Zubiri was my favorite little town on the Camino.
I love your reply. I would do the same. Just be organic, authentic and then "read the room". I hope I meet you on the trail Anhalter because I'd welcome a "want to walk together for a while?"
I try to not form an opinion about other's actions based on how I would act. And...I would love to hear stories during your 4 week volunteer time of where you saw examples of kindness, love and/or sacrifice of pilgrims.
It has been mentioned already but worth repeating...stop in Le Refuge Orisson the first day. It's a beautiful experience to sleep in the Pyrenees! And, it makes for a much shorter and more manageable first day. https://www.refuge-orisson.com/en
An idea for shampoo/conditioner is Lush sells a round bar that can be used for hair and body. If you purchase their square tin it makes it easy to get the round soap out and best part...lasts the entire camino. (I even used it to wash my socks in the sink!)
I sprayed my silk liner, backpack, and the socks I wore every night to sleep with permethrin. I sprayed them in my garage and left them out for a few days to dry. The smell did not linger. I see you live in NYC. I bought my permethrin in a spray can at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Whether you finish the Camino or don’t, I challenge you to stop for a minute, look around and say, “I’m in Spain!” Take it all in. You are becoming an intimate part of this country by walking through its woods, streams, little towns with unique and often incredible churches. some people walk the...
There’s a saying… in our 20s we worry about what people are saying about us — in our 40s we don’t care what anyone is saying about us — and in our 60s we realize no one was saying anything about us. Just have fun - no one will force you to join in and very unlikely anyone would think you’re “weird”.
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